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DRAMA  IN  FOVR  ACTS 


By  B.  Russell  Herts 


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THE  SON  OF  MAN 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR : 

Depreciations. 

The  Decoration  and  Furnishing  of  Apartments. 


THE  SON  OF  MAN 

A  Drama  in  Four  Acts 

By  B.  RUSSELL  HERTS 


NEW  YORK 

FRANK  SHAY 

1916 


ffi 


Copyright  1916,  by  B.Russell  Herts 


All  dramatic  rights  reserved 
by  the  author 


ToE. 


M203799 


THE  SON  OF  MAN 


ACT  I.     Outside    the    house    of   Jesus    and   Mary,    the 
Mother,  at  Nazareth  in  Galilee. 

ACT  II.     The  hut  of  Jesus  on  the  Mount  of  Olives,  near 
Jerusalem. 

ACT  III.     Outer  courtyard  of  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem. 

ACT   IV.     Within  the  hut  of  Jesus  on   the  Mount   of 
Olives. 


CHARACTERS  : 

Jesus,  Son  of  Mary. 

Mary,  the  Mother. 

Mary  of  Magdala. 

Pontius  Pilate. 

The  Twelve  Apostles. 

Zebedee. 

Salome,  wife  of  Zebedee. 

Saducee  and  Pharisee  priests,  merchants,  poor  people  and 
Roman  soldiers. 


PREFACE 

When  I  conceived  the  notion  of  writing  "The  Son  of 
Man,"  I  determined  to  drop  from  my  mind  all  curiosities 
and  accomplishments ;  to  forget  all  the  hampering  conven 
tions  that  surround  this  subject,  and  to  labor  with  careful 
devotion  in  the  making  of  a  work  of  art  that  should  exhibit 
the  world's  greatest  figure  in  a  fresh  and  vital  and  in 
spiring  way  to  the  people  of  today. 

I  explain  this  original  process  of  mine,  not  because  I 
imagine  that  I  have  fully  succeeded  in  this  ambition  but  so 
that  readers  of  the  play  may  understand  the  psychology  of 
its  author  at  the  time  of  its  construction — an  understanding 
which  may  be  no  less  necessary  than  that  of  the  psychology 
of  the  characters.  Without  the  knowledge  we  have  gained, 
from  hundreds  of  essays,  of  the  changing  mental  outlook 
of  Ibsen  and  Strindberg,  we  should  be  far  less  capable  of 
grasping  the  sense  of  their  plays,  while  the  prefaces  of 
Mr.  Bernard  Shaw  have  served  to  the  skeptical  as  assur 
ances  of  his  seriousness  of  purpose. 

In  this  play,  I  have  allowed  myself  the  greatest  possible 
liberties.  I  have  been  historical  only  when  it  suited  me. 
I  have  taken  lines  attributed  to  Jesus  in  one  period  of  his 
life  and  placed  them  in  another.  I  have  pictured  the  people 
whom  I  use  in  a  way  for  which  there  is  often  no  biblical 
foundation,  and  I  have  used  the  works  on  this  subject  of 
Renan,  Josephus,  Maeterlinck,  Mr.  Bouck  White  and  others 
whenever  I  found  anything  in  them  that  seemed  fitting. 

My  explanation  of  this  unheard  of  procedure  is  that, 
from  my  standpoint,  the  supreme  importance  of  the  figure 
of  Jesus  in  the  world  today  is  not  dependent  upon  the  truth 


THE   SON    OF    MAN 

or  untruth  of  what  has  been  written  about  him  in  the  Bible 
or  elsewhere,  or  upon  his  divinity,  or  even  upon  the  likeli 
hood  or  unlikelihood  of  his  existence,  but  that  it  is  entirely 
due  to  the  wealth  of  beauty  and  idealism  that  has  come 
to  surround  the  name  Jesus  in  the  minds  of  millions  of 
people  in  every  generation,  a  fortunate  inheritance  to  which 
every  generation  has  contributed.  My  reason  for  attempt 
ing  the  expression  of  my  own  conception  is  that  I  find  the 
most  generally  accepted  pictures  unsatisfying,  and  I  am 
led  to  believe  that  many  other  people  find  them  so.  It  is  in 
evitable  that  the  world's  vision  of  a  man,  expanding  and 
amplifying  through  nineteen  centuries,  should  have  become 
over-elaborate,  muddled  and  not  thoroughly  suited  to  the 
present  needs  of  the  race.  My  effort  has  been  to  select 
from  the  tangle  of  ideas,  qualities  and  characteristics  that 
has  grown  up,  such  points  as  conform  to  the  scientific  and 
intellectual  developments  of  modernity,  and  since  these  same 
developments  have  rendered  the  drama  modernity's  most 
popular  literary  form,  I  have  woven  my  concept  into  a  play. 
I  <lo  not  think  it  should  be  considered  objectionable  to 
place  the  figure  of  Jesus  upon  the  stage,  any  more  than  it 
is  to  place  a  painter's  idea  of  him  upon  canvas,  or  an 
author's  in  print.  The  theatre  is  being  rapidly  transformed 
from  a  place  of  vulgarity  and  ugliness  into  one  of  great 
physical  beauty  furnishing  a  basis  for  a  vast  intellectual 
and  ethical  influence.  But,  finally,  the  very  production  of 
the  play,  if  it  ever  takes  place,  must  be  in  its  own  justifica 
tion,  and  that  is  all  there  is  to  be  said  about  the  matter. 

B.  RUSSELL  HERTS. 
NEW  YORK  CITY,  August  20th,  1914. 

10 


ACT  I. 


The  Son  of  Man 


Ac-T  I. — Outside  the  house  of  Jesus  and  Mary  the  mother, 
22  A.  D.  On  the  right,  the  rough  stone  structure  and  out 
side  of  it,  before  the  door,  a  large  mat  and  a  few  cushions, 
a  painted  chest,  two  clay  pots,  and  a  couple  of  rough-hewn 
benches.  A  stony  path  leading  up  to  the  dwelling  from 
the  main  road  across  the  back.  A  few  clumps  of  wild 
flowers  here  and  there. 

In  the  background,  in  a  hollow  backed  by  mountains,  the 
village  of  Nasareth:  a  heap  of  huts}  built  without  style, 
not  differing  much  from  cubes  of  stones,  without  elegance, 
but  agreeably  surrounded  by  vines  and  fig-trees,  fresh  and 
green  gardens. 

There  are  indications  that  if  we  zvere  to  ascend  one  of 
the  hillsides  a  little,  the  prospect  would  be  splendid.  There 
is  the  outline  of  Carmel  on  the  left,  and  at  the  back,  the 
double  summit  above  Megiddo ;  the  mountains  of  Shechem, 
with  their  holy  places  of  the  patriarchal  age;  and  the  bosom- 
like  Tabor.  Through  a  depression,  the  valley  of  the  Jor 
dan  and  the  high  plains  of  Peraea. 

The  curtain  rises  on  a  moment  of  silence  and  then  several 
groups  of  bent  and  wrinkled  men  and  women  enter  and 
stand  or  crouch  near  a  vine  that  grows  on  the  left  of  the 
stage.  A  Pharisee  follows,  speaking  to  an  old  man. 

13 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

THE  OLD  MAN  :  Yet  we  harm  no  one  in  the  sight  of  God. 
THE  PRIEST  :   It  is  not  meet,  it  is  not  meet. 

THE  OLD  MAN  :  We  come  here,  in  all  quietness,  to  await 
him.  We  do  not  stir  and  there  is  scarcely  a  word  spoken. 

THE  PRIEST:   Nevertheless,  it  is  not  well  that  you  should 

come  here.     That  woman  there (He  points  his  stick  at 

the  group.)     She  is   a   leper.     Does   she   not   know  that 
lepers  are  not  permitted  in  the  towns? 

THE  OLD  MAN  :  All  come  to  him ;  there  is  none  turned 
away. 

THE  WOMAN  :  (Coming  up.)  I  am  not  a  leper.  He  says 
it  is  my  soul  must  be  cured,  and  that  he  will  take  me  with 
him  this  day  into  the  south. 

THE  PRIEST  :  This  man  is  mad ;  he  would  infect  the  whole 
community  with  his  sorceries.  (Two  other  Pharisees 

enter.) 

THE  PRIEST:  (Turning  to  them  and  pointing  to  the  old 
men  and  women.)  Here  is  the  dung  heap  of  Galilee. 

THE  OLD  MAN:  (Who  has  rejoined  his  group.)  Dung 
heap  he  called  us — dung  heap!  (Others  repeat  "Dung 
heap,  dung  heap,"  and  there  is  a  murmuring  throughout 
the  throng.) 

THE  SECOND  PRIEST:    (Raising  his  staff  and  approaching 

them.)     Silence,  ye  Syrian  swine !     (The  old  men  and 

women  cower  in  a  corner  of  the  stage.)     Unclean  beasts, 

14 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

born  in  the  slimy  ditches  of  the  south !  Keep  off  from 
God's  anointed  ones  !  ( He  turns  to  his  companion  priests.) 
These  meetings  here  must  cease.  Jesus  debases  our  pro 
fession  and  makes  the  filthy  of  the  world  his  fellows.  If 
he  could  have  his  way,  the  first  would  be  last,  and  the  last 
first. 

THE  FIRST  PRIEST  :  He  is  an  anarchist,  an  agitator  of  the 
unworthy 

THE  SECOND  PRIEST  :  He  associates  with  the  Samaritans — 

THE  THIRD  PRIEST  :  He  breaks  bread  with  Persians, 
Greeks  and  Syrians 

THE  SECOND  PRIEST  :  He  preaches  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead 

THE  FIRST  PRIEST  :  He  speaks  of  a  new  earth  and  a  new 
Jerusalem 

THE  SECOND  PRIEST  :   He  says  that  all  shall  be  saved 

THE  FIRST  PRIEST  :   And  that  the  world  shall  be  destroyed 

THE  THIRD  PRIEST:  He  is  a  hater  of  the  holy  Sanhedrim 
—  (They  are  in  the  midst  of  their  arraignment  when  Pon 
tius  Pilate  enters  from  the  back  accompanied  by  a  Roman 
soldier  bearing  the  insignia  of  the  Senate  and  the  Roman 
People.  Pontius  is  handsome  in  his  dress  of  a  Roman 
officer,  and  not  of  an  official.  At  this  time  he  is  in  charge 
in  Galilee  but  has  not  yet  been  advanced  to  the  position  of 
Procurator  of  Judea.  Some  of  the  poor  men  and  women 
are  crouching  in  the  left  corner;  others  have  withdrawn 
down  the  road.} 

15 


THE   SON    OF    MAN 

FIRST  PRIEST:  Hail  to  thee,  Pontius  Pilate,  viceroy  of 
the  sublime  Augustus!  Hail! 

PONTIUS  PILATE  :  And  to  ye,  viceroys  of  Abraham,  Isaac 
and  Jacob,  each  sublimer  than  his  father.     I  am  looking 
for  the  sublimest  of  your  race !     I  seek  the  gentle  paranoiac 
-  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 

THE  SECOND  PRIEST  :  And  we  too  seek  him,  Pontius  Pilate, 
we  priests  and  these  foul  haters  of  the  rich.  We  have 
come  to  remonstrate  with  him  against  these  gatherings. 

THE  FIRST  PRIEST:  For  while  he  cures  the  people,  he  di— 
courses  to  them  and  tells  them  tales  of  insurrection. 

THE  SECOND  PRIEST:  Yea,  and  the  laws  of  the  noble 
Augustus  must  be  enforced. 

THE  THIRD  PRIEST:  Jesus  offends  against  the  laws  of 
Rome. 

i;  FIRST  PRIEST:  He  would  cause  workmen  to  rise 
against  those  who  pay  them  their  hire,  and  so  industry 
would  cease  and  famine  would  come  upon  the  land. 

D  PRIEST:  And  often  the  workman  who  is  paid 
is  not  worthy  of  his  hire. 

\TIUS  PILATE:  You  take  him  too  seriously,  my  friends. 
\Ve  Romans  find  such  men  in  every  land.  Besides,  this 
Jesus  is  a  gentle  and  diverting  creature.  Perhaps  I  shall 
relieve  you  of  your  difficulties,  by  taking  him  with  me  into 
the  south. 

16 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

FIRST  AND  SECOND  PRIESTS  :  You — you,  the  viceroy  of 
Rome? 

THIRD  PRIEST  :  Surely  sedition  does  not  meet  with  favor, 
the  anarchy  is  not  to  be  endured. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Nay,  as  you  know,  Rome  forces  from 
all  people  what  she  wants :  gold,  labor,  spoils.  Beyond 
that,  Caesar  cares  little  what  they  do.  In  Athens,  the 
gentle  Jesus  would  have  been  listened  to  and  loved — even 
by  the  highest.  Here  it  is  only  the  poor  who  are  not  blinded 
to  him.  But,  then,  if  he  had  been  a  Greek  the  sweet  man 
would  have  had  a  sense  of  humor  and  that  would  have 
been  fatal  to  his  philosophy. 

FIRST  PRIEST  :  Nay,  my  lord,  we  cannot  understand  these 
Western  epigrams.  We  are  simple  folk,  who  live  in  bare 
houses,  eat  light  diet,  and  walk  forth  in  the  sunlight  think 
ing  simple  thoughts.  We  would  know  whether  you  will 
take  this  man  with  you  to  Jerusalem. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  (Smiling.)  If  he  will  come,  surely; 
on  the  word  of  a  Roman.  I  have  spoken  to  him  and  found 
him  as  receptive  as  a  sane  man.  But  here's  his  best-beloved 
mother:  we  must  have  her  sanction  too.  (Pontius  goes 
down  the  road  and,  as  Mary  enters,  takes  her  by  the  arm 
to  help  her  along  the  rough  path.  She  is  a  tall,  beautiful 
woman,  great  in  mind  and  body.)  (The  priests  return  to 
their  harangue.) 

FIRST  PRIEST  :   We  shall  be  well  rid  of  him. 

SECOND  PRIEST:  I  have  said  again  and  again  that  these 
meetings  must  cease. 

17 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

THIRD  PRIEST:  It  is  wrong  to  bring  infected  persons  into 
the  village. 

FIRST  PRIEST:  And  today  there  is  a  famous  prostitute 
come  to  visit  him. 

SECOND  PRIEST:  Yes,  a  prostitute  of  Magdala  whom  the 
people  have  threatened  justly  to  stone. 

FIRST  PRIEST:  He  makes  the  poor  complain  more  and 
more  about  their  taxes. 

SECOND  PRIEST:  Yes,  and  we  must  force  them  to  pay 
more,  so  that  we  may  have  Caesar's  good  will. 

THIRD  PRIEST  :  They  are  beasts,  these  people  he  has  gath 
ered  about  him.  (They  all  talk  more  or  less  at  once  and 
more  and  more  angrily.)  (Pontius  and  Mary  walk  across 
the  back,  look  a  moment  at  the  priests,  and  go  out  on  the 
right.) 

FIRST  PRIEST:    Lepers,  miscreants,  thieves — 

SECOND  PRIEST:   The  man  is  a  fool 

THIRD  PRIEST  :    He  thinks  he  can  remake  the  world. 

FIRST  PRIEST  :    Sorcerers,  devils,  vermin  of  the  desert 

SECOND  PRIEST:    He  i-  an  anarchist 

THIRD  PRIEST  :  Did  you  not  hear  the  noble  Pilate  call  him 
by  some  strange  name? 

FIRST  PRIEST:  A  son  of  Satan! 
SECOND  PRIEST  :   A  clog  of  the  Devil ! 

18 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

ALL  OF  THE  PRIESTS:  Disease  monger!  Beast!  Con- 
sorter  with  thieves !  Turn  him  out  upon  the  road !  Cast 
him  back  into  the  manger!  (In  the  midst  of  a  considerable 
uproar,  Jesus  enters,  a  little  in  advance  of  Pontius  and 
Mary,  who  seat  themselves  on  the  right.  Jesus  is  slightly 
bearded;  he  has  his  hand  on  his  forehead  and  looks  off  into 
the  distance.  Finally  he  stands  by  the  roadside  gazing 
earnestly  at  the  Priests  with  tearful  eyes.  Suddenly  they 
become  silent,  turn  to  him,  and  then,  lowering  their  eyes, 
depart.)  (Jesus  comes  to  his  mother,  who  is  trembling 
violently,  and  kisses  her  hands.) 

MARY  :  I  am  fearful  for  you,  Jesus,  though  I  have  helped 
to  make  you  one  for  whom  I  must  fear. 

JESUS:  Nay,  mother,  thou  dost  know  Fear  is  the  great 
destroyer.  Souls  die  of  fear;  and  all  work  shall  perish, 
if  fear  be  wrought  with  it.  Only  those  are  deathless  who 
know  no  death,  as  only  they  are  of  God  who  can  conceive 
Him. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  I  conceive  Him  most  delightfully  in 
Bacchus. 

JESUS  :  Thou  hast  no  thought  of  him,  Pontius. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Nay,  I  assure  thee,  Bacchus  receives 
much  of  my  attention. 

JESUS :  My  thought  is  of  man.  In  him — in  those  that 
suffer  and  rejoice  in  his  world — shall  I  find  God. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Nay,  Jesus,  does  not  even  your  old 
Hebrew  prayer  cry  out  to  your  old  Hebrew  God,  "What  is 

19 


THE    SON    OF   MAN 

man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him?"     Would  you  have  me 
quite  unreasonable? 

JESUS:  Thou  art  a  man,  yet  Man  can  mean  so  little  to 
thee.  (Pontius  smiles.) 

PONTIUS  PILATE:   A  certain  man  means  much. 
JESUS:  I  wonder,  Pontius,  if  I  be  a.  man. 

PONTIUS  PILATE  :  Jesus,  be  serious ;  I  meant  not  thee,  but 
me.  Thou  art  the  greatest  egotist  in  history.  I  frankly 
think  upon  myself,  but  thou  expectest  all  the  world  to  think 
on  thee. 

JESUS:   Yet  am  I  never — thoughtful  of  myself. 

PONTIUS  PILATE  :  It  would  be  as  natural  for  thee  to  think 
upon  thyself  (or  any  other  individual)  as  for  me  to  take 
but  a  single  cask  of  wine  with  my  dinner. 

JESUS:   Dost  thou  more? 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Ay,  innocent;  I  bathe  twice  daily  in 
yellow  wines  of  Greece  at  present,  for  I  have  come  to  hate 
your  mineral  Galilean  water,  even  when  it  comes  not  to  my 
mouth.  But  we  have  other  matters  for  discussion.  It 
grieves  me  to  be  serious;  but  I  am  anxious  to  save  thee 
from  these  fretting  Pharisees  and  I  have  spoken  to  your 
mother  of  my  wish  to  have  you  journey  with  me  to  Jeru 
salem. 

JESUS:   And  my  mother? 

MARY:    Jesus,  your  worth  shall  not  be  hampered  by  my 

20 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

wish.     Sooner  or  later  you  must  go  into  the  world.     This 
is  perhaps  the  moment  for  your  coming. 

JESUS:  Mother,  is  this  the  hour  that  hovered  always  in 
your  thoughts?  (Mary  bows  her  head.) 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Ay,  'tis  settled.  We  shall  start  soon 
after  sunset.  I,  with  my  cohort;  you,  with  such  followers 
as  you  choose.  Moreover,  my  friend,  there  is  a  creature 
of  beauty  will  visit  you  today.  She  comes  from  Magdala, 
and  she  is  fair  of  skin,  with  rare  dark  tresses  and  a  body 
that  all  lovers  of  the  beautiful  are  praising. 

JESUS:  All? 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Ay,  for  many  have  seen  her,  as  you 
shall  today.  (He  tosses  his  handsome  head  joyfully  and 
goes  toward  the  back.)  And  now,  my  dear  curer  of  the 
sick,  dost  thou  love  me? 

JESUS  :  I  love  Man  and  Woman,  Pontius — and  our 
Father,  God. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:   I  am  no  woman,  Jesus. 
jEsus :  Thou  art  my  brother. 
PONTIUS  PILATE:    And  thy  friend. 

JESUS  :  Yet  thou  dost  unrighteously.  I  have  told  thee  so 
often. 

PONTIUS  PILATE  :  I  cannot  help  it,  Jesus,  my  friend.  That 
which  thou  sayest  means  nought  to  me.  I  do  not  know 
this  God;  he  is  not  necessary  to  my  life;  I  think  not  on  him. 
It  is  enough  for  me  to  love  my  friends,  to  dwell  with  men 

21 


THE   SON    OF    MAN 

in  justice,  with  women  in  affection,  with  wine  in  abund 
ance,  with  thought  in  extravagance  and  with  sorrow  in 
elimination.  I  care  nothing  for  thy  heaven  or  thy  million 
souls  of  the  future. 

JESUS:   Yet  thou  art  my  friend? 

PONTIUS  PILATE  :  Ay,  Jesus,  it  is  so.  For  thou  art  beau 
tiful,  and  therefore  I  love  thee.  But  thou  hast  grave 
faults.  Thou  almost  makest  me  serious. 

JESUS:    Would  it  were  so. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Nay,  seriousness  is  a  vice  second  only 
to  goodness. 

JESUS:    Pontius 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Oh,  thou  art  beautiful  in  spite  of  both 
of  them.  (He  rises.)  Thy  beauty  shall  beam  upon  me  at 
the  setting  of  the  sun.  Fare  thee  well,  mater  sancta.  (He 
goes,  smiling  and  pressing  his  sword  lightly  to  his  side.) 

JESUS:  (Looking  into  the  distance.)  Lord,  may  he 
sorrow  some  day,  and  find  his  soul.  (He  turns.)  Mother, 
I  shall  go  to  the  poor  along  the  roadside  and  then  come  to 
thee.  We  shall  find  souls  in  them,  I  know.  There  are  a 
score  who  must  wander  with  me  down  the  southern  roads 
and  come  with  me  at  last,  perhaps,  even  to  the  Temple. 

MARY  :  Go  to  thy  tasks,  my  son,  and  think  not  too  greatly 
of  the  base,  brutal  things  that  deserve  destruction,  but  of 
the  beauty  and  the  strength  that  men  can  gather  for  their 
children  down  the  ages. 

22 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

JESUS:  But,  mother,  recollect  that  Rome  is  joined  unto 
the  Temple  in  a  deep,  dire,  robbing  warfare  on  mankind. 

MARY:  Yea,  but  it  is  only  by  thinking  and  by  love,  that 
God's  will  is  fulfilled.  (She  goes  into  the  house.)  (Prom 
the  left  comes  Zebedee,  bearing  his  wife  Salome  on  his 
arm.  He  is  a  poiverful  man,  comfortably  dressed;  she  is 
slight }  with  a  wan  beauty  and  a  nervous  manner.) 

JESUS  :  God  be  with  you  and  bless  you,  brother  and 
sister ! 

ZEBEDEE  :  Thanks,  Rabbi ;  we  have  dire  need  of  His  bless 
ing. 

JESUS:  Has  the  shadow  of  a  sorrow  been  cast  across 
your  house?  (Jesus  sits  upon  one  of  the  pots  and  Zebedee 
takes  Salome  to  a  bench  beside  him.) 

SALOME:   Oh,  woe! 

ZEBEDEE:  Jesus,  the  soldiery  have  seized  my  son  and 
sheep  and  taken  them  across  the  hills.  To-day  we  have 
heard  of  his  death  in  the  Samaritan  mountains. 

SALOME:    Alas,  for  our  child! 

ZEBEDEE:  And  our  living.  We  have  but  two  ewe  lambs 
left  and  they  cannot  be  bred.  It  will  take  a  score  of  years 
to  build  our  flock  again. 

SALOME:  We  are  undone.  To  God  and  man  our  life  is 
worthless  now.  Woe,  woe ! 

JESUS:    (Placing  his  hand  on  Salome's.)     Nay,  sorrow 

23 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

not  for  thy  son  or  thy  substance.  Both  have  crossed  the 
distant  hills;  but  life  is  here,  love  is  here,  and  within  you 
is  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

ZEBEDEE:  She  has  been  so  for  eight  and  forty  hours. 
Never  a  moment  has  she  slept,  never  a  morsel  has  she 
eaten ;  every  word  and  thought  and  act  has  been  sent  from 
hell  to  her.  First  she  would  cry  out  against  our  son  and 
tear  her  hair  and  silver  froth  would  come  upon  her  lips. 
Then  she  would  curse  me  for  my  fatherhood  and  cry  out 
to  the  Lord  to  strangle  her.  Then,  when  that  passed,  per 
haps  in  tears  she  would  bewail  our  fate  as  now,  or  in  wild 
laughter  mingling  with  wild  cries,  dash  forth  into  the  black 
air  of  the  night,  plunging  her  bared  breasts  in  the  black 
wind,  torturing  her  body  with  wild-flying  hands.  .  .  .  She 
is  quiet  now.  It  is  the  only  time  in  eight  and  forty  hours. 

SALOME:    Oh,  cure  me,  Rabbi;  save  me  from  myself. 

ZEBEDEE:  She  has  a  dozen  devils  playing  with  her  soul. 
.  .  .  We  were  so  happy  but  a  week  ago.  .  .  .  Can  you  not 
purge  her — give  her  back  to  me  ? 

JESUS:  We  shall  see.  (He  rises.)  Come  with  me, 
Sister.  (Salome  tries  to  rise  and  cannot.  Jesus  places  his 
hand  on  her  shoulder  and  looks  into  her  eyes.)  You  can 
follow,  sister.  Rise.  (She  rises.)  Walk  beside  me. 
(Together  they  cross  the  garden  to  a  bench  on  the  other 
side.  Zebedee  goes  to  the  left  where  he  is  joined  by  sev 
eral  old  men.) 

JESUS:  Sister — Salome — look  into  my  eyes.  Remember 
this:  there  is  no  hurt  but  God  can  make  it  well,  there  is 

24 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

no  harm  but  God  can  make  it  help.  (He  takes  her  hands 
in  his.)  God  is  within  you.  .  .  .  The  grandeur  of  the  cen 
turies  is  buried  in  your  heart.  Israel  suffered  that  you 
might  be  here  and  came  down  through  a  hundred  gener 
ations  that  you  might  be  born.  ...  Do  you  hear  me,  wife 
of  Zebedee?  (Salome's  face  takes  on  a  new  sweetness  of 
expression.) 

SALOME:  I  hear  a  voice  that  chants  the  music  of  the 
stars. 

JESUS  :  Salome — Sister — your  husband  awaits  you  and  is 
ready  for  you.  He  is  yonder  and  his  face  is  seared  with 
sorrow  at  your  wretchedness.  Remember,  it  is  joy  we  are 
put  here  to  bring.  God  is  within  you  and  God  is  the  giver 
of  joy.  Give  heed  to  the  voice  of  God  that  shall  drown  all 
voices  other  than  his;  give  heed  and  love.  Go  to  your 
husband  with  the  peace  of  love  in  your  heart,  and  may  the 
gloried  Father  of  Creation  keep  within  your  spirit  and 
bless  you  forever!  (He  takes  her  face  between  his  hands 
and  kisses  her  three  times  upon  the  forehead.  She  rises, 
smiling,  yet  a  little  dazed,  and  walks  back  across  the  garden 
to  where  Zebedee  and  the  others  stand  open-mouthed  and 
wonder-smitten.  Before  reaching  him  she  clasps  her  hands 
once  and  then  flings  them  apart  and  runs  into  his  arms. 
Jesus  slowly  follows  her  across  the  stage  and,  after  a  min 
ute,  addresses  the  group  that  has  formed.) 

JESUS:  Let  those  who  love  Jesus  of  Nazareth  take  no 
thought  of  the  morrow,  for  at  sunset  to-day  he  fares  forth 
toward  the  southern  sea. 

25 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

AN  ou>  MAN  :  Shall  the  light  of  the  world  be  taken  from 
Galilee?  (He  goes  to  Jesus  and  touches  him.) 

.\  WOMAN:  Shall  the  poor  in  spirit  be  robbed  of  their 
beloved  ? 

VOICES  IN  THE  CROWD:  Nay — nay — we  are  undone — 
Jesus  stay  with  us! 

JESUS:  Those  who  would  establish  the  Kingdom  of  God 
shall  gp  with  me.  Out  upon  the  plains  at  sunset  there 
shall  be  a  feast,  to  which  each  of  you  shall  bring  the  best 
of  his  store.  Zebedee,  who  was  rich,  has  only  two  lambs, 
and  those  he  shall  slay,  and  give  of  them  to  the  rest.  Those 
who  go  with  us  shall  bring  what  they  will.  .  .  .  To-day  ye 
shall  eat  and  drink  and  be  joyful  on  the  earth.  Take  ye, 
therefore,  no  thought  of  the  morrow,  for  sufficient  unto  the 
day  is  the  evil  thereof.  (One  by  one  the  men  and  women 
pass  him  and  walk,  with  varying  degrees  of  rapidity,  down 
the  road  at  the  back  of  the  garden.  Some  touch  the  gar 
ment  of  Jesus,  others  take  him  by  the  hand,  a  few  women 
kiss  him.  Finally,  after  all  have  passed,  Mary  of  Mag- 
dala,  who  has  been  hidden  in  the  back  of  the  group,  comes 
and  stands  before  him.  She  is  simply  clad  and  soiled  from 
travel.  Jesus  looks  at  her  for  a  full  minute  without  speak- 
i^g-) 

JESUS:  And  from  where  do  you  come,  maiden? 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :  From  afar — beyond  where  the  grey 
est  hills  sink  in  green  meadows.  I  am  from  the  fertile 
region  of  Magdala. 

JESUS:   And  where,  maiden,  do  you  go? 

26 


THE    SON    OF   MAN 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :  I  go  on  the  stony  way  to  Jerusalem ; 
but  I  am  no  maid,  and  that  is  my  ill. 

JESUS  :  I  knew  you  had  sorrowed.    I  felt  you  had  sinned. 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :  I  am  the  scorned  of  men  .  .  .  but  I 
cannot  feel  that  I  have  sinned.  My  mother  was  poor  and 
I  comforted  her;  my  father  was  ill  and  I  eased  his  pain. 
Oh,  I  have  labored  for  a  dozen  years,  and  borne  want  and 
hardship,  I  have  drudged  and  sacrificed  that  they  might 
live  to  drudge  and  sacrifice.  Woman  has  but  a  single  gift, 
one  value,  one  reward.  If  she  gives  that  she  may  live  and 
suffer;  if  not,  she  is  cast  among  the  beggars  of  bread. 

JESUS:   Yet  if  she  gives  herself,  nought  is  left  to  her. 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:  So,  Jesus,  I  have  felt.  And  so  I 
have  gone  forth  and  come  to  you.  At  Jerusalem  I  shall 
try  to  live  by  work,  as  men  do. 

jEsus :  And  do  you  sorrow  for  that  which  is  past  ? 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:  Shall  I  sorrow  for  a  virgin  soul? 
My  body  has  been  sold,  polluted  and  disdained ;  but  I  have 
saved  my  soul. 

jEsus :  (Looking  away  into  the  distance.)  Who  saveth 
his  soul  shall  lose  it. 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :  I  shall  give  it  but  once,  and  the  time 
is  not  yet.  (Jesus  looks  down  at  her  again,  and  she  gazes 
straight  into  his  eyes.)  (He  takes  her  hands  from  where 
she  has  clasped  them  upon  her  knee  and  draws  her  up  to 
her  feet.) 

27 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

JESUS:  I,  too,  am  destined  for  Jerusalem.  Ere  eventide 
they  shall  assemble  here  who  go  to  establish  the  Kingdom 
of  God.  Wilt  thou  come ?  (She  bows  her  head.) 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:    (In  a  whisper.)     Ay. 

JESUS:  May  the  everlasting  Father  of  all  creation  bless 
you  and  keep  you  and  shower  you  with  the  glory  of  His 
spirit.  (He  kisses  her  on  the  forehead.  She  shivers  ecsta- 
ticoll\  and  then  bends  and  kisses  his  hands  and  goes.) 
(Mary  the  mother,  who  has  been  standing  in  the  doorway 
comes  toward  her  son.) 

MARY:  My  boy,  there  are  strange  fires  in  life  that  have 
been  shown  to  you  only  as  the  tossing  of  reflected  flames. 
(Jesus,  without  hearing  her,  looks  out  over  the  road  on 
which  Mary  has  gone.)  My  son,  let  me  stir  you  for  the 
tasks  of  the  day,  for  one  must  live  as  well  as  dream. 
(Slowly  Jesus  turns  toward  her,  awakes,  and  clasps  her  in 
his  arms.) 

jEsus :  Beautiful  mother,  dearest  one!  Oh,  how  I  love 
the  world  to-day!  Every  speck  that  flies  in  the  air,  and 
the  beams  of  glory  that  cast  glow  upon  glow  on  the  world. 
I  would  romp  with  every  child  of  Galilee,  and  tear  across 
the  meadows  and  hillsides,  loving  the  beasts  of  the  fields, 
and  the  flowers  and  ferns,  and  all  that  gives  life  and  joy  to 
the  children  of  men. 

MARY:   And  the  woman  that  wanders  on  the  road? 

JESUS:  Yes,  she!  Did  you  see?  The  wonder  of  a  blos 
som  coming  to  flower.  Oh,  I  love  them  all,  all  the  wonder- 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

ful  people  of  the  world!  All  the  poor  and  feeble  and  the 
sick,  each  is  a  brother  or  sister  worth  the  comforting! 
Souls !  What  is  there  in  all  the  universe  like  the  bursting 
soul  of  youth  ? 

MARY:  Jesus,  my  dearest  son,  thou  must  beware  of  this 
same  bursting  soul  of  youth. 

JESUS  :   And  shall  I  fear  the  greatest  gift  of  God  ? 

MARY:  This  gift  brings  sorrow  on  the  heads  of  men. 
Sit  thee  down  there,  Jesus.  Let  me  tell  thee  something 
that  thou  ne'er  hast  known.  (Jesus  is  seated  expectantly. 
Mary  runs  her  hand  across  her  face  and  sighs.) 

jEsus :  (After  a  few  moments.)  Mother,  thou  didst 
wish  to  speak. 

MARY:  Yea,  my  son,  thou  knowest  so  much  of  thy 
mother  and  yet  hast  craved  so  little  to  learn  all  the  rest. 

JESUS:  I  know  that  thou  art  wonderful  among  the 
mothers  of  the  world;  that  whereas  motherhood  is  often 
great  and  beautiful  where'er,  howe'er,  it  comes,  thine  has 
been  like  an  ever  nascent  dawn,  radiant  with  the  warmth 
of  quenchless  love. 

MARY:  My  son!  (He  takes  her  in  his  arms  for  a  mo 
ment  and  then  they  sit  silently  together  on  the  rough-hewn 
settle.)  Will  you  think  back  what  seems  a  myriad  years? 
Will  you  imagine  things  that  were?  Will  you  conceive  a 
strange  young  girl — not  such  as  those  who  follow  you  about 
— but  one  alone,  unloved,  yet  loving — everything;  and 
knowing  not  her  love.  Such  I  was.  And  in  the  tumults 

29 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

of  my  mind,  I'd  wander  in  a  frenzy  or  a  calm  out  on  the 
sands  at  nightfall,  with  my  thoughts  in  Heaven.  Then  the 
dark  would  come,  and  with  a  laden  soul  I  often  sank  upon 
the  sand  and  fell  asleep.  Perhaps  one  moment,  at  the  end, 
the  stars  would  pierce  me  with  a  thousand-flashing  light, 
and  I  would  know  the  mysteries,  and  understand.  But 
always  when  the  sun  rose  I  awoke  to  darkness  once  again, 
and  wandered  homeward,  while  the  seeds  of  sand  glinted 
about  me  like  my  speckled  questionings.  Oh,  you  do  not 
know;  I  have  made  you  simple  of  spirit,  my  son;  my  sor 
rows  have  saved  you  from  the  wonderings  of  the  world. 

JESUS:  To  me  each  thought  comes  like  the  drenching 
sunlight  of  the  noon;  illuming  all  and  dominating  all. 

MARY:  I  know.  But  in  my  questionings  your  answers 
have  been  borne.  .  .  .  One  night  I  slept,  and  in  my  dreams 
I  thought  a  great  thought  that  the  people  burned  me  for. 
They  dragged  me  out,  and  spat  on  me,  and  stoned  me  and 
the  Pharisees  stood  all  about  and  watched  them  build  a 
pyre  for  my  death.  I  mounted  on  the  faggots  and  was 
tied,  and  always  overhead  hovered  the  great  thought  that 
was  scarce  defined,  but  made  all  else,  all  suffering,  all 
fears,  turn  into  mockeries  of  those  who  watched.  Sud 
denly,  the  flame  enmeshed  my  body;  pain  aroused  me,  and 
I  moaned  and  screamed.  There  seemed  a  weight  upon  me ; 
and  then,  as  I  awoke,  I  thrilled  with  an  undreamt  desire. 
...  I  lay  quite  weakly  on  the  sand,  while  a  grey  figure 
stole  away  in  the  mist.  Morn  was  upon  me  and  I  aroused 
myself,  not  knowing  that  the  night  had  brought  me  mother 
hood — and  thee. 

30 


THE   SON    OF    MAN 
JESUS :   My  mother! 

MARY:  Love  there  was  not,  nor  lust,  for  me;  I  was  a 
virgin,  but  for  my  pain  and  thee.  .  .  .  You  know  the  story 
of  kind  Joseph's  gift;  his  good  name,  his  protection,  kind 
ness,  help  and  care.  But  I  am  virginal  to  this  hour,  of 
love. 

JESUS :  Heavenly  mother,  wondrous  one!  Thou  shalt 
remain  so,  with  thy  son  to  love. 

MARY  :  I  have  remained  so,  with  the  love-  of  God.  I  bore 
you  in  my  bosom  for  His  world.  My  great  thought  and 
my  burning  had  made  you.  And  so  you  came,  a  man 
child,  on  the  earth;  the  son  of  no  known  man,  and  there 
fore  of  mankind. 

JESUS  :  Mother,  I  have  tarried  with  thee  two  and  twenty 
years.  But  to-day  I  shall  go  forth  into  the  larger  world, 
doing  my  labors  and  finding  them  that  shall  love  me.  And 
if  there  be  others  that  do  not  love  me,  I  shall  suffer  even 
their  hate  to  come  unto  me,  that  I  may  give  and  give  for 
the  good  of  men.  (Pontius  Pilate  has  entered  with  a  dozen 
men.  There  is  a  trumpet  blast  and  Jesus  turns  toward 
him,  raising  his  hand  above  his  head  in  the  Roman  fashion 
of  salute.  Pontius  returns  it,  and  places  himself  at  the 
gate.)  Here  is  Pontius,  mother,  ready  to  be  gone.  .  .  . 
The  sun  is  shivering  in  the  sheets  of  its  death  bed,  borne 
along  to  a  misty  shroud.  Soon  it  will  be  evening  and  we 
have  far  to  cover  ere  the  dawn.  Will  you  not  kiss  me  and 
go  in?  (He  bows  before  her  for  a  moment.  Then  she 
kisses  him  on  the  forehead  and  mouth.  At  last,  as  she 

31 


THE    SON    OF   MAN 

holds  him,  she  gazes  fixedly  into  his  eyes  and  speaks  the 
last  speeches  of  the  act.) 

MARY  :  Jesus,  from  all  the  ages  have  I  carved  thee ;  from 
all  experience  of  all  mothers ;  from  all  loves  and  all  desires ; 
from  the  vile  lusts  of  David's  concubines,  and  from  the 
unshown  glory  of  Isaiah's  passion.  All  of  this  is  in  you. 
All  that  a  mother  could  drain  off  from  impulses  that  made 
her  seek  the  stars;  that  came  like  blinding  furies  sweeping 
across  desert  sands — such  things  are  thickened  in  your 
blood ;  such  things  and  countless  other  hopes  and  fears  and 
loves  I  have  uprooted  from  the  ages  and  planted  bleeding 
in  your  heart. 

JESUS  :    Mother,  mother,  my  beloved ! 

MARY:  Nay,  I  am  nought  to  you.  You  have  a  world  to 
serve.  You  shall  march  down  beneath  the  arches  of  the 
years,  not  feared  as  Caesar,  but  beloved,  as  no  man  in  the 
world  has  been.  (She  places  her  hands  on  his  shoulders.) 
You  shall  go  forth  from  me,  Jesus.  You  shall  go  out  into 
all  the  world.  And  wherever  you  may  go,  men  shall  love 
and  follow  you,  and  what  you  tell  unto  them  shall  be  treas 
ured  from  generation  to  generation. 

JESUS:   Nay,  mother — 

MARY:  Jesus,  be  silent,  for  I  know.  I  have  loved  as 
woman  never  loved,  and  suffered  as  only  those  who  bear 
the  petty  hatred  of  the  world.  God  shall  give  you  love, 
always,  from  men,  because  your  mother  was  outcast  of 
men.  Be  not  brave  in  battle  nor  wise  in  council,  but  first 
of  all  the  world  in  love! 

32 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

JESUS:  I  am  dazed.  I  do  not  know  what  use  to  make 
of  the  power  surging  in  my  veins.  I  am  not  clear  where 
I  shall  help  or  how.  But  now,  before  thee,  mother,  all  my 
life  and  strength  I  will  to  men,  to  help  man  in  the  world. 
Man  shall  be  served  eternally.  Forever,  until  the  Kingdom 
of  God  is  come,  in  every  generation  shall  there  be  men  to 
whom  my  work  shall  pass  and  who  will  glory  in  the  heri 
tage.  Surely  in  the  things  of  the  spirit  to  him  who  hath 
shall  be  given  and  from  him  who  hath  not  shall  be  taken 
away.  (Jesus  is  in  the  center.  Mary  looks  at  him  wist 
fully.) 

MARY:  Jesus — (With  infinite  love  he  turns  to  her.) 
Thou  art  my  son — and  God's.  (Mary  the  mother  turns 
toward  the  hut,  and  Mary  of  Magdala  comes  behind  Jesus 
and  speaks  to  him  in  a  whisper.) 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:  Art — thou — ready?  (Jesus  turns 
and  gazes  at  her  and  beyond.)  Come. 


33 


ACT  II. 


THE    SON    OF   MAN 


ACT  II 

The  hut  of  Jesus  on  the  Mount  of  Olives  above  Jeru 
salem.  Below,  the  orchard  of  Gethsemane,  and  plantations 
of  olives,  figs  and  palms.  On  the  mountain-side  two  great 
cedars,  their  branches  crowded  with  clouds  of  doves. 

From  the  hut,  half-way  up  the  hillside,  can  be  seen  the 
Dead  Sea  and  the  Jordan,  and  beyond  them  Mount  Moriah 
and  the  terraces  of  the  temple  and  its  roofs,  covered  with 
glittering  plates  of  metal,  which  gleam  in  the  sunset  which 
completes  the  act. 

Mary  of  Magdala  is  weaving,  with  Judas  Iscariot  beside 
her.  He  appears  more  agreeably  than  usual,  as  in  the 
painting  of  the  Last  Supper,  by  Andrea  del  Sarto.  For  the 
first  minute  Judas  plays  upon  the  harp;  otherwise  there  is 
silence. 

MARY:    It  is  beautiful! 

JUDAS:    Really  beautiful,  dost  thou  think? 

MARY:  Yea,  for  it  has  the  spirit  of  the  Jews,  they  who 
hold  the  greatest  happiness  of  men  by  bearing  in  their  souls 
the  sorrows  of  the  world. 

JUDAS:  We  are  all  men  of  sorrows,  and  sometimes  I  feel 
that  I  am  destined  to  be  the  saddest  of  all  men. 

MARY:  Thou  shouldst  be  happy,  being  a  leader  to  the 
light  that  shall  shine  on  men  for  ages. 

37 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

JUDAS:  But,  shall  I  be?  That  is  what  haunts  me  when 
the  light  is  dim.  Shall  I  be  brilliant  among  men?  Shall  I 
be  whispered  through  the  centuries,  together  with  Isaiah, 
David  and — and — 

MARY  :   Jesus. 

JUDAS:  Jesus,  Jesus.  He  it  is  shall  conquer.  He  shall 
be  known  as  the  leader  of  our  people. 

MARY:   Why  dost  thou  envy  him,  Judas? 

JUDAS:  Ah,  ah,  if  I  could  but  tell  thee!  Dost  thou  not 
see  it  in  my  fear?  Dost  thou  not  hear  it  in  my  breath? 
Dost  thou  not  read  it  in  my  eye?  All  things  are  his,  all, 
all.  Why  must  he  conquer?  Why  must  the  tender  of  the 
earth  possess  the  world?  Why,  cans't  thou  tell  me,  why? 
(He  has  risen.  Mary  rises.) 

MARY:  Judas,  what  woulds't  thou  have?  What  is  there 
Jesus  hath,  thou  cans't  not  have?  What  wilt  thou?  Tell 
me.  (Judas  turns  about  and  coming  close  to  her  speaks 
TV////  swift  fierceness.) 

JUDAS:  Thee.  .  .  .  Thy  love  is  his;  thy  fears  are  all 
for  him.  (She  shrinks  back.)  I  would  have  thee,  Mary, 
thee,  thee.  I  am  no  demigod,  but  a  man.  1  would  love 
thee,  Mary,  bitterly,  sweetly,  tenderly,  fiercely;  with  all  the 
power  of  my  soul ;  with  all  the  strength  of  my  body.  .  .  . 
I  have  wept  for  thee,  Mary ;  I  have  bowed  down  and  glori 
fied  thy  name;  I  have  approached  thee  as  Moses  did  the 
burning  bush,  wherein,  he  thought,  flamed  God's  immortal 
fire.  I  have  loved  thee  with  love  beyond  all  men's  desire, 

38 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

which,  flaming,  purpled  the  heavens  and  the  hills  until  my 
soul  was  drunken  with  the  vision.  Were  I  able,  thou 
should'st  have  praise  for  men  to  sing  in  India  and  Egypt 
and  far  undiscovered  lands  when  he  and  thou  and  I  are 
tombed  a  thousand  years. 

MARY  :  Judas,  thou  dost  wrong  to  Jesus.  His  love  is  not 
as  thine.  Would  that  it  were !  His  love  is  not  the  love  of 
other  men — and  I  am  but  a  woman.  Yet  I  love  him,  as 
every  woman  does  some  man,  some  time.  That  being  so, 
I  can  but  do  as  God  has  chosen  that  I  do.  ...  Give  me 
thy  hand.  (Judas  covers  his  face  with  his  arms  and  turns 
away.)  Give  me  thy  hand,  my  brother.  (He  uncovers  his 
face  and  his  eyes  are  tearful.  They  clasp;  he  bows  his  head 
on  her  hand.) 

JUDAS  :  Oh,  I  am  not  so  happy  as  my  song,  sweet  Mary. 
The  sorrows  of  the  ages  are  too  heavy  for  my  brow.  Some 
times  I  am  fierce  with  hatred  and  with  scorn.  I  could 
wound,  kill — betray !  Then  I  am  mad.  It  seems  as  if  my 
mind  and  will  were  gone.  .  .  .  When  I  am  calm  I  love  men 
and  the  world,  and — him. 

MARY:  Child,  child,  cease,  cease  and  I  shall  love  thee 
into  calm.  (Judas  looks  up.) 

JUDAS  :  Nay.  He  that  would  serve  mankind  must  never 
love — a  woman. 

MARY:  (Shuddering.)  Hush!  Hush!  There  speaks 
my  greatest  fear.  (Enter  Peter  and  Matthew.  They  con 
form  to  their  appearance  in  Leonardo  Da  Vinci's  "Last 

39 


THE    SON    OF   MAN 
Supper."     Peter  is  heavily  bearded  and  stern,  Matthew  very 

:>•  Clit.) 

PETER:   There  is  good  news  from  every  side. 

JUDAS:  (Leaving  his  harp  beside  Mary.)  What  is  the 
news,  O  venerable  brother?  Of  what  new  victories  do  you 

tell? 

PETER  :  Of  none  to-day,  but  of  great  conquerings  to  come. 
\Yar,  war  shall  be  fought;  and  Jehovah  shall  conquer 
through  his  sons.  .  .  .  Jesus  is  at  the  lake-side  now,  with 
John  and  James  and  the  woman  Salome.  The  people  are 
gathering.  All  come  to  him.  From  every  side  they  come: 
a  score  of  singing  shepherds  from  the  end  of  Genessareth ; 
merchants  in  Greek  garb  from  the  town;  hunters  from  the 
hillsides  about  Hermon.  Ten  score  were  gathered  when 
we  came  away  and  more  and  more  were  coming. 

MATTHEW:  Scarcely  that  many,  Peter.  I  noted  down  a 
hundred  on  my  tablets.  A  couple  score  may  have  come,  in 
the  last  moments. 

PETER:  There  may  be  half  a  thousand  now.  It  matters 
not.  They  "are  all  ours,  ours,  as  all  men  shall  be.  ... 
They  say  that  the  great  Baptist  joins  our  host  today,  and 
that  will  mean  a  thousand  added  to  our  ranks. 

MATTHEW:  I  shall  have  the  exact  figures  from  John  the 
Baptist's  self  when  we  confer.  Then  I  can  enter  them. 

JUDAS:  It  is  true  they  come  to  him  from  every  side.  See 
how  we  ourselves  have  come :  thou  and  Andrew  from 
Capernaum,  Peter;  James  and  Jude  from  Galilee;  Matthew, 

40 


THE    SON    OF   MAN 

here,  who  has  been  a  publican,  from  the  city;  John  from 
the  Baptist's  throng  and  myself  from  Southern  Kerioth. 
What  is  it  draws  us  into  the  same  mesh  and  tosses  us  to 
gether  from  the  corners  of  the  earth? 

MATTHEW  :  It  is  the  will  of  God  that  it  be  fulfilled  which 
was  spoken  by  Esaias,  the  prophet. 

PETER:  It  is  that  all  good  men  may  join  hands  in  the  war 
O::  wars,  the  struggle  that  is  greater  than  conquest:  the 
battle  of  the  people  for  that  which  has  been  taken  from 
them. 

MARY  :  It  is  love.  ( They  turn  to  her  sharply,  as  if  they 
had  not  known  she  was  among  them.)  Nay,  let  my  wo 
man's  instinct  speak.  ...  Ye  have  not  come  thinking  of 
Esaias,  nor  yet  of  the  wounding  that  I  fear  must  come. 
Like  him,  in  the  days  at  Nazareth,  ye  have  thought  first  of 
the  love  of  men  and  the  help  ye  could  give  them.  That,  ye 
must  bear  always  in  your  minds,  though  hate  has  come  into 
your  hearts.  For  when  ye  have  fought  a  hundred  battles 
and  mastered  the  masters,  then  will  the  people  still  cry  out 
for  love.  Love,  love  thine  enemies — even  as  ye  kill  them. 
Thou  canst  not  conquer  but  by  love.  ...  I  must  go  to 
him.  I  must  be  with  him  when  the  men  are  arming.  (As 
she  goes,  the  rest  are  silent,  pondering.) 

JUDAS:  There  spoke  the  voice  of  the  mother  of  men. 
It  is  strange  how  they  who  never  will  be  mothers  often 
know  what,  if  all  mothers  knew  it,  would  make  a  world  of 
God's  own  sons.  (Judas  goes  into  the  hut,  taking  his  harp 
with  him.) 

41 


THE   SON    OF    MAN 

PETER:  \Ve  must  bestir  ourselves,  Matthew.  We  must 
conquer  swiftly,  soon. 

MATTHEW:  Hast  thou  heard  that  Livia  has  put  Tiberius 
upon  the  throne  and  tyranny  now  walks  in  nakedness  at 
Rome  ? 

PETER:  Do  we  not  see  on  every  hand  that  Rome  has 
fastened  bondage  on  the  world?  The  Empire  is  a  vast 
anklet  circling  about  the  earth,  embracing  every  nation, 
tongue  and  climate  into  one  common  mass  of  plunder. 

MATTHEW  :  Years  ago  the  high  priests  opened  Jerusalem 
to  Pompey ;  and  now  all  rulers  and  all  aristocracies  combine 
with  Rome  to  wreck  the  nations  that  have  nourished  them. 
.  .  .  Speak  to  the  soldiers  quartered  on  our  poor  and  they 
\vill  tell  you  of  the  boundless,  brutal  wealth  of  Rome.  .  .  . 
Augustus,  ere  he  died,  in  one  forenoon  had  thrice  a  thou 
sand  gladiators  slaughtered  by  four  hundred  lions  leaping 
from  silver  cages  for  the  people's  sport.  And,  in  their 
thirst  for  blood,  women  and  dwarfs  were  driven  in  the  fight 
with  red-hot  irons;  and  afterwards,  slave  girls  from  Syria 
danced  naked  in  pools  of  wine  and  blood. 

PETER  :  God  of  Israel,  thy  people's  land  is  but  the  feeding 
ground  of  a  new  nation  given  up  to  gluttony  and  lust.  Help 
t«s  to  save  the  lowly  of  the  world !  (John,  the  youngest  and 
handsomest  of  the  Apostles,  clad  in  a  light  drapery  and 
with  bare  feet,  comes  running  from  the  right.) 

JOHN:  Peter,  I  tell  of  victory!  Redemption  is  at  hand. 
Jesus  has  spoken,  and  Jerusalem — the  world — shall  hear. 

42 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 
AND  MATTHEW  :    (Together.)     Tell  us!     Tell  us! 

JOHN  :  A  thousand  workmen  thronged  the  shores  of  the 
sea :  fishermen,  carpenters,  smiths,  workers  in  metal  and 
artisans  in  wool.  All  was  in  hubub  when  the  master  came. 
Then,  as  he  stepped  upon  a  stone,  the  sun  shot  straight 
from  Heaven  on  his  head,  and  as  they  saw  him,  silence  de 
scended  like  an  aureole.  Silence;  for  one  by  one  the  thou 
sand  paused  in  speech;  and  every  living  thing  that  loved 
and  labored,  surged  and  sang  in  the  world  seemed,  as  these 
men,  to  still  its  sorrow  and  its  joy.  Little  birds  whose 
plumage  dotted  the  forest  stretches,  whose  forms  flecked 
the  sunshine  with  blues  and  lavenders — these,  at  this  mo 
ment  were  quite  songless;  and  the  tall  grasses  swayed  not 
with  their  accustomed  whirr.  The  wind  ceased  singing 
ii-  the  trees;  the  russet  meadows  were  aglow;  in  silence  the 
branches  swayed ;  and  in  our  hearts  there  was  the  pause  of 
a  transcendent  stillness,  closing  the  gates  of  joy  and  lock 
ing  sorrow  too  out  of  the  soul.  Then  the  Master  whispered 
low,  words  that  shall  circle  quite  about  the  world,  living 
forever  in  the  minds  of  men.  There  were  words,  wondrous 
and  terrible,  that  smote  upon  our  minds  and  seared  our 
spirits.  He  told  of  past  iniquities  and  the  redemption  that 
must  come.  He  spoke  quite  peacefully,  but  the  crowd  rose 
up,  and  with  a  mighty  oath,  pledged  the  destruction  of  the 
Temple.  Some  seized  on  branches  from  the  trees  and 
others  rocks  from  the  roadside  and  when  I  left,  a  thousand 
men  were  arming. 

PETKR :  At  last,  Jehovah,  I  thank  thee !  At  last  has  come 
the  day,  when  all  the  evil  of  the  earth  shall  perish,  when  un- 

43 


THE   SOIS    OF    MAN 

belief  shall  disappear  and  error  be  no  more !  (As  he  speaks, 
Jesus  enters,  followed  by  Mary  of  Magdala,  Salome,  wife 
of  Zebedee,  and  a  great  crowd.)  Hail,  Hail,  Jesus  our 
Saviour !  Jesus,  thou  art  the  Saviour  of  the  world ! 

JESUS:  Nay,  Peter,  it  is  only  at  the  uttermost  moments 
that  I  think  that.  Often  I  know,  as  at  this  moment  now, 
that  error  stays  and  unbelief.  Destruction  can  do  nought 
1  ut  clear  the  world  for  new  truths,  that  in  turn  must  prove 
untrue. 

PETER:  Then,  wherefore,  Master,  shalt  thou  strike  thy 
blow  ? 

JESUS:  To-day's  good  must  conquer  to-day's  evil,  which 
was  the  good  of  yesterday.  Therefore  shall  I  blast  the 
Temple.  I  come  not  to  destroy  but  to  fulfill. 

I'KTER :  And  so,  to  Jerusalem :  to  the  raging  city,  where 
sin  storms  daily  at  men's  hearts;  the  city  of  wealth,  the 
-  vnngogue  city,  where  God  meets  man  on  payment  of  a 
coin;  the  city  of  pollution,  where  thousands  slave  until 
nightfall  that  they  may  rise  at  daybreak  to  slave  again; 
and  where  a  hundred  concubines  and  their  effete  protectors 
reel  in  red  riot,  lusting  for  flesh  with  an  insatiate  thirst 
each  draining  makes  more  lustful  than  the  last.  Woe  to 
the  city  of  Solomon!  Woe  to  a  world,  where  millions 
starve  that  few  may  surfeit! 

JESUS:  Ye  devour  widows'  houses;  ye  shall  receive  the 
greater  damnation. 

A  MAN  IN  THE  CROWD  :  Jesus,  we  shall  follow  thee  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth. 

44 


THE    SON    OF   MAN 

ANOTHER  MAN  :  We  are  thine,  henceforth,  and  only  thou 
shalt  lead  us. 

A  THIRD  MAN  :  Thou,  Master,  thou  shalt  bring  us  to  the 
light. 

FIRST  MAN  :  Jesus  shall  be  our  king !  ( There  is  a  vast 
murmuring  of  assent.) 

jEsus :  Brothers,  my  brothers.  (The  throng  resounds 
with  a  great  cheer.) 

JESUS:  (Coming  toward  the  throng.)  My  kingdom  is  not 
of  this  world.  But  of  another.  Of  a  world  where  all  men 
labor,  a  world  where  all  men  labor  for  love,  for  accomplish 
ment  in  that  world.  There  is  neither  money  nor  wealth  in 
the  world  of  my  kingdom,  there  is  nought  except  that  which 
belongs  to  all.  My  kingdom  is  the  kingdom  of  every  man 
and  of  all  women  and  all  children.  My  kingdom  is  in  the 
world  of  truth  that  never  has  been,  yet  shall  be,  on  the 
earth.  My  kingdom  is  in  the  world  of  joy,  of  sorrow,  of 
labor  and  care,  of  love  and  passion,  of  flesh  and  spirit  and 
of  everything  except  the  hate,  the  lust,  the  avarice  that 
rules  in  this  world  that  man  has  given  to  his  children. 
(During  the  foregoing  the  representatives  of  the  Temple 
have  come:  priests,  hazzan,  apparitor,  shamrnasches,  and 
deputies,  each  dressed  in  the  robes  of  his  office.) 

ONE  01?  THE  PRIESTS  :  Jesus,  such  things  are  age-old ;  can 
you  cure  them? 

PETER :    Nay,  the  time  is  past  for  medicines. 

45 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

JESUS:    (Discovering  the  group  of  dignitaries.)     What 
it  that  these  men  would  have  of  me? 


Speak,  sons  of  Satan,  speak.    The  Master  would 
hear  you.     (There  are  threatening  signs  from  the  crowd.) 

THE  HIGH  PRIEST  :  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  Son  of  Man,  King 
of  the  Jews,  or  whatever  thou  wouldst  have  us  call  thee, 
we  are  come  in  humility  to  know  thy  will.  For  we  see 
that  thou  hast  the  voice  of  the  people  and  perhaps,  as  the 
Romans  say,  the  voice  of  the  people  is  the  voice  of  God. 
We  have  not  felt  it  so  ;  we  have  believed  in  the  unalterable 
rules,  in  the  laws  of  Moses  and  the  Prophets.  But  perhaps 
thou  art  right.  Speak  to  us  and  we  are  ready  to  listen; 
teach  us  and  we  shall  learn.  .  .  .  Thou  hast  conquered, 
Xazarene;  it  is  for  thee  to  tell  thy  will. 

THE  APPARITOR:  We  are  willing  to  worship  in  new  ways. 
We  are  even  willing  to  sacrifice  the  rentals  of  the  booths 
in  the  Temple.  .    .    .   But  let  there  be  peace.     (The  other 
'ts  repeat  "Peace,  peace.") 

PETER:  (Turning  to  them.)  Let  us  have  flaming  fires 
and  a  sword  !  Let  us  have  blood  from  every  whited  throat 
glittering  with  the  green  of  emeralds.  Let  us  smear  all  the 
Roman  filth  with  scarlet  and  eternal  infamy,  and  let  the 
false  Jews  who  would  be  rich  and  powerful  at  their  broth 
ers'  cost  perish  with  Tiberius'  slaves.  Ye  hypocrites,  ye 
fools  and  blind,  serpents  and  vipers,  whited  sepulchres  full 
of  dead  men's  bones!  How  can  ye  escape  the  damnation 
of  Hell? 

46 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

JESUS:  Peace,  Peter,  silence.  We  must  deal  gently  and 
thoughtfully  with  all. 

PETER :  But,  Jesus,  these  are  the  words  that  you  yourself 
have  spoken. 

JUDAS:  (Recognizing  Jesus'  phrases  in  Peter's  on 
slaught.)  Ha,  ha!  (The  people  at  the  back  become  ner- 
I'ous  and  unsettled  and  brush  threateningly  against  the 
priests. ) 

PETER:  (Taking  Jesus  aside  along  with  Judas  and  Mat 
thew.)  Jesus,  thou  cans't  not  hold  a  word  with  these  men 
here.  The  people  have  risen  and  they  are  not  to  be  stilled. 

MATTHEW  :  That  is  true.  It  were  better  to  dismiss  all 
and  to  consider  what  may  best  be  done. 

JUDAS  :  It  is  a  rising  of  Earth's  disinherited,  that  cannot 
be  restrained. 

MATTHEW  :  We  cannot  proceed  without  the  Baptist  and  it 
is  dangerous  to  wait.  Jesus,  will  you  hold  them? 

JUDAS  :  Nay,  they  must  not  be  held.  Now  is  the  moment, 
row,  or  our  strength  is  gone. 

MATTHEW  :   It  were  best  to  wait,  perhaps. 

JUDAS:  Let  us  not  wait,  Peter,  let  us  not  wait.  He  will 
weaken  if  we  wait  till  morn. 

JESUS  :  Dost  thou  doubt  me  so  soon  ?  Brothers,  we  must 
do  nought  in  thoughtlessness  and  hate.  (He  comes  for 
ward  and  speaks  to  the  crowd.) 

47 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

JESUS:  Go  ye  forth,  men  of  Judea,  and  of  Galilee  and 
Bethabara  and  Capernaum  or  whencesoever  ye  come.  Go  ye 
into  the  city;  and  ye  of  the  Temple,  and  my  brothers  and 
sisters,  go  ye  with  them,  excepting  John,  who  shall  stay 
with  me  until  nightfall.  Tomorrow  I  shall  be  with  you  and 
ye  shall  hear  what  may  come  to  pass.  Until  then,  silence 
— peace — and  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  be  upon  ye.  ( The 
priests  withdraw.  The  crowd  gradually  and  slowly  and 
unwillingly  and  threateningly  follows  them.)  (Judas  goes.) 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:  Jesus,  I  am  afraid.  .  .  .  It  is  the 
first  time.  (The  apostles  have  drawn  together  at  the  side 
with  Salome,  wife  of  Zebedee.)  (Enter  Pontius  Pilate 
alone  and  enveloped  in  a  cloak.  He  is  still,  though  older 
and  less  frivolous,  the  kindly  aesthete  of  Act  1.) 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Mary  of  Magdala,  thou  are  right  to 
fear.  (The  Apostles  look  up  in  surprise  and  anger;  then 
recognising  Pontius,  they  bow  to  him  and  retire.) 

MARY:  Oh,  save  him,  Pontius  Pilate,  and  protect  him. 
Thou  alone  canst  help  him  among  men. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Nay,  beautiful  Mary,  Jesus  needs  not 
Rome  tonight.  He  speaks,  as  your  high  priest  said,  with 
the  Voice  of  the  People.  And  so  long  as  he  proclaims  what 
the  people  desire  to  hear,  he  will  speak  with  the  Voice  of 
God.  .  .  .  But  beware,  Jesus,  my  friend ;  lead  them  whither 
they  would  go,  for  no  one  is  nearer  destruction  than  he  who 
commands  the  populace. 

JESUS:  Perchance  thou  art  right,  Pontius  Pilate.  Yet 
will  I  go  with  the  people  to  the  Temple.  There  is  nought 

48 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

else.     For  some  men  it  must  always  be  so.   .    .    .1  have 
hoped  all  things,  desired  all  things  only  for  the  world. 

PONTIUS  PILATE  :  In  a  thousand  years,  or  in  ten  thousand, 
men  may  know  that  thou  art  right ;  but  today  thou  mayest 
have  to  offer  thy  life  to  those  who  shall  use  it  or  destroy  it. 

JESUS  :  Man  can  but  give  his  death  to  those  who  will  not 
use  his  life. 

MARY:    He  can  be  happy  among  men  and  living! 

jEsus :  Happy?  Happy  we  have  been!  Happy — have 
we  not  all  been:  Peter,  Matthew,  John,  my  beloved  ones? 
The  people  were  blind  and  we  have  come  into  the  world 
that  they  might  see. 

MARY  :  Yea,  Jesus,  I  too  have  been  happy  in  the  love 
that  hath  made  me  the  mother  of  all  men  and  the  wife  of 
none. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Listen,  Jesus,  to  her;  and  learn  from 
Epicurus  to  seize  fast  upon  the  only  good  that  is  given  to 
man:  his  joys.  .  .  .  The  priests  are  plotting  thy  death. 
They  will  be  faithless  to  every  pact.  The  people  are  change 
lings — thou  canst  not  count  upon  their  love  from  day  to 
day.  John  the  Baptist  cannot  aid  thee,  I  fear,  for  he  is 
captive  in  Herod's  court. 

MARY  :  Oh,  woe !     Jesus,  wilt  thou  go  forth  without  him  ? 

JEsus:  Even  alone  will  I  go,  as  alone  I  came — among 
men.  But  I  must  think  again,  whether  to  war  or  peace. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:    Thou  art  safer  in  war,  by  far.     Learn 

49 


THE   SON    OF    MAN 

from  Caesar.  Let  the  masses  kill  each  other.  I  shall  be 
near  at  hand  to  protect  thee  whate'er  befall ;  but  be  assured 
the  people  are  riotous  and  will  brook  no  word  of  peace. 

JESUS:   We  shall  see. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Jesus,  I  cannot  save  thee;  if  thou  losest 
the  backing  of  the  crowd.  .  .  .  Farewell.  (Pontius  salutes, 
raising  his  right  hand  high  in  the  air.) 

JESUS:  Pontius,  if  this  be  the  end,  I  would  have  my  loved 
ones  near.  Wilt  thou  send  a  soldier  unto  Nazareth  for  my 
mother  ? 

PONTIUS:  Ay.  (He  goes,  and  Mary  follows  him  weep 
ing.)  (Jesus  is  seated.  John  comes  and  sits  beside  him.) 

JESUS:  John,  John,  thou  hast  the  name  of  the  Baptist, 
but  thou  art  no  conqueror.  Yet  thou  hast  that  which  is 
beyond  good  and  which  is  lovelier  than  beauty  and  more 
potent  than  any  excellence  of  the  earth :  a  spirit  warm  and 
radiant  with  life  and  truth. 

JOHN:  My  beloved  Master!  (Jesus  covers  his  eyes  for 
a  few  moments  and  then  goes  quickly  to  the  edge  of  the 
mountain  side  and  looks  toward  Jerusalem.) 

JESUS:  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  which  killest  the  prop 
hets  and  stonest  them  that  are  sent  unto  thee;  how  often 
would  I  have  gathered  thy  children  together  as  a  hen  doth 
gather  her  brood  under  her  wings ;  and  ye  would  not. 

JOHN  :   (Coming  to  him.)    Master,  Master,  be  not  mourn- 

50 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

ful.     Did  not  Peter  say  thou  shouldst  conquer,  and  are 
there  not  thousands  arming  to  follow  thee  ? 

j£sus :  (Putting  his  hand  on  John's  head,  and  gazing 
into  the  distance.)  Nay,  my  son,  that  is  what  I  wonder: 
whether  it  is  best  to  conquer.  .  .  . 


51 


ACT  III. 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 


ACT  III 

An  outer  courtyard  of  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem,  the  ar 
chitecture  of  high  walls  of  the  later  Jewish  period,  in 
fluenced  by  Assyrian  and  Babylonian  decoration.  At  the 
back,  the  huge  gateway  leading  into  the  inner  court,  and 
beyond,  the  Sanctuary.  The  roofs  are  a  mass  of  glittering 
metal,  for  the  sun  is  shining.  On  every  side  the  merchants' 
booths  laden  with  their  wares:  silks,  jewels,  teas  and  con 
fections,  amulets  and  urns  and  prayer  books;  the  owners 
moving  about  arranging  their  things  to  best  advantage. 
Several  priests  cross  from  the  inner  court. 

FIRST  PRIEST:  But  now  we  are  assured  that  John  no 
longer  lives,  we  need  fear  nothing. 

SECOND  PRIEST:  Ay,  it  is  true,  without  the  Baptist  this 
Son  of  God  would  need  to  be  the  devil's  grandsire  to 
succeed. 

THIRD  PRIEST  :  However,  one  cannot  be  sure.  We  have 
only  the  vaguest  rumors  from  the  Court  of  Herod  at 
Tiberias. 

FOURTH  PRIEST:  And,  besides,  the  people  are  so  aroused 
they  must  force  him  on,  even  if  he  be  unwilling. 

FIRST  PRIEST:  It  is  impossible  to  tell  what  this  man  will 
do.  He  is  gentle  and  fierce,  proud  and  lowly,  kind  and 
hateful  all  in  the  same  moment. 

55 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

SECOND  PRIEST:  Our  best  plan  would  be  to  have  him 
imprisoned  and  then  we  shall  be  able  to  pacify  the  people 
by  sending  out  wine  and  prostitutes  and  by  throwing  gold 
to  them.  It  is  not  necessary  any  longer  to  offer  com 
promises. 

THIRD  PRIEST:    The  people  soon  forget. 

FOURTH  PRIEST:  Hark,  our  brother  comes  with  Pilate. 
(As  Pontius  Pilate  enters  from  within,  accompanied  by  a 
fifth  priest,  the  others  bow  a  dozen  times  and  back  away 
from  him.  He  is  dressed  in  the  robes  of  a  high  civil  official, 
with  a  band  of  gold  about  his  head.) 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Vox  populi,  vox  Dei,  and  Jesus  cer 
tainly  has  the  voice  of  the  people.  We  Romans  have  taxed 
and  tortured  the  poor  beyond  all  bearing,  and  you  have 
helped  us  in  the  beastly  work.  This  carnage  and  oppres 
sion  bores  me,  and,  most  strangely,  it  seems  to  have  become 
objectionable  to  the  oppressed.  The  Jews  are  everywhere 
ready  for  battle,  and  Jesus  is  their  logical  leader. 

THE  FIFTH  PRIEST:  (Who  accompanies  Pontius.)  But 
they  must  be  stopped — there  is  danger.  Rome  must  lend 
her  protection. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  (Laughing.)  Rome  is  a  thousand 
miles  away.  Do  you  suppose  our  handful  of  pilferers  could 
stand  for  an  instant  against  a  people  really  roused  ? 

SECOND  PRIEST:  This  Jesus  must  be  put  to  death.  We 
c«m  bring  charges  against  him. 

56 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

THIRD  PRIEST:  Yea,  he  stirreth  up  the  people,  and  that 
ic  a  crime  according  to  the  law. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  That,  my  friends,  is  always  a  crime 
according  to  every  law,  wherever  the  few  who  own  every 
thing  are  fearful  of  the  many  who  create  everything  that 
the  few  own.  Nay,  you  must  find  something  better.  For 
so  long  as  Jesus  leads  the  people  in  the  way  they  would  go, 
so  long  will  he  prove  invincible.  They  will  obey  him,  pro 
tect  him,  die  for  him.  That  is  how  Caesar — became  Caesar. 
The  Empire  is  grown  over-large.  Who  knows  but  Jesus — 

FIRST  PRIEST  :   Thou  speakest  treason,  Pilate. 

SECOND  AND  THIRD  PRIESTS:   Treason,  treason  to  Caesar! 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  (Haughtily.)  Hark,  ye,  Priests  of 
Jerusalem,  render  unto  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's 
— learn  that  from  him  ye  would  destroy — but  let  your  minds 
dwell  on  the  things  that  concern  them.  (He  walks  out  on 
the  right,  the  Priests  bowing  humbly  behind  him.  Then 
they  straighten  up  alertly  and  come  together  in  the  center 
of  the  stage.) 

THE  FIRST  PRIEST  :  We  must  proceed  without  him,  and 
alone.  The  people  will  soon  be  here  and  then  nought  can 
be  done. 

THE  SECOND  PRIEST  :  Let  the  merchants  close  their  booths 
and  let  us  take  the  relics  from  the  Temple  to  some  place  of 
hiding. 

THE  THIRD  PRIEST  :  It  may  not  be  necessary  but  we  must 
hold  ourselves  in  readiness.  (The  priests  go  about,  one  to 

57 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

each  of  the  booths  and  converse  with  the  merchants.  Dur 
ing  the  ensuing  scene  the  merchants  are  taking  in  their 
goods  and  trying  to  get  away.) 

THE  FIFTH  PRIEST  :  Did  you  not  think  that  Pilate  showed 
a  strange  regard  for  this  foul  anarchist? 

THE  FIRST  PRIEST  :  Ay,  if  there  were  time  for  news  of  it 
to  get  to  Rome — 

..THE  SECOND  PRIEST:   Hush,  hush,  such  words  avail  not. 

THE  THIRD  PRIEST:  And  then,  besides,  it  is  strange  but 
true  that  Rome  cares  little  what  becomes  of  us  or  our 
people.  She  must  have  gold ;  so  long  as  that  comes  forth, 
Caesar  is  satisfied.  (The  Priests  go  into  the  inner  Court. 
The  merchants  have  closed  their  stalls  and  are  about  to 
depart  as  a  great  crowd  enters.  The  people  are  careless 
and  unrestrained.  The  atmosphere  is  ominous.) 

THE  FIRST  MAN:   Where  is  our  Jesus? 

A  SECOND  :  Yea,  we  must  have  him  now  that  John  is  dead. 

A  THIRD:  (A  tottering  old  man.)  They  say  he  comes  not 
because  he  is  kept  by  his  concubines. 

THE  SECOND:  Mayhap,  but  we  shall  have  plenty  such  to 
occupy  ourselves  with  when  we've  the  gold  rods  of  the 
Torah  and  the  silver  candlesticks  out  of  the  Temple. 

THE  FIRST:  Um — m,  I  can  picture  myself  sucking  the 
lips  of  some  young  woman  of  the  Palace  of  Tiberias. 

A   FOURTH:     (Coming  up.)     There's  young  flesh  to  be 

58 


THE    SON    OF    MAN 

had  for  the  taking.     The  decrepit  race  of  Herod  are  none 
to  satisfy  sensuous  Jewesses. 

THE  THIRD  :  And  Pontius  will  not  interfere,  for  he  hates 
Herod  Antipas  and  his  Grecian  tribe. 

THE  SECOND:    Yea,  all  we  need  is  a  leader. 

A  FIFTH  MAN:  (Shouting.)  Where  is  Jesus?  He  shall 
lead  us  to  victory. 

SEVERAL:  The  Baptist  is  dead;  long  live  the  Galilean! 
(The  priests  enter  from  the  Temple  bearing  sacred  relics.) 

THE  FIRST  MAN  :  Nay,  these  must  not  go  from  us  !  ( There 
is  a  scuffle,  the  relics  are  dropped  and  the  priests  flee.) 
(Enter  Mary  of  Magdala.  The  men  have  crowded  about 
the  relics  which  are  on  the  ground,  but  as  one  discovers 
Mary  and  pulls  his  companion's  sleeve  to  call  his  attention 
to  her,  the  others  look  up  and  gather  about.) 

THE  SECOND:   Here  is  the  mistress  who  has  kept  him. 

THE  FIRST:  We  know  about  her;  she  has  been  a  whore 
for  years. 

THE  FOURTH  :  Woman  of  Magdala,  where  is  thy  master, 
Jesus  ? 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :  Alas,  that  he  should  come  among  ye, 
mad  as  ye  are  with  lust  and  hate. 

THE  THIRD:  Mad,  dost  thou  say,  foul  woman?  Mad  is 
it.,  we  are? 

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THE   SON    OF   MAN 

SEVERAL:  Mad,  she  said;  mad.  (There  is  a  vast  rumbling 
in  the  throng.) 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:  (Sadly,)  If  you  have  any  pity  or 
respect  or  love  for  him  you  call  your  saviour,  show  it  now. 
He  is  weary ;  he  has  suffered ;  let  him  rest. 

THE  FIRST  :   She  would  seduce  him  from  us. 
THE  SECOND:    He  shall  lead  us  today. 

THE  THIRD:  When  I  was  a  young  man  such  a  woman 
would  have  been  stoned.  (They  crowded  about  her 
threateningly. ) 

THE  FOURTH  :  He  shall  lead  us  today  and  after  that  there 
will  be  rest  and  luxury  for  all.  Shall  not  we  all  have  blush 
ing  breasts  to  kiss  and  warm  pink  women's  bodies  near 
our  own? 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :   Nay,  hear  me — 

THE  FIRST:  She  shall  be  punished,  this  wanton  of  Mag- 
dala. 

THE  THIRD  :  Yea,  let  her  perish  by  stoning  as  I  have  said. 
She  first,  then  Herod  and  his  tribe,  the  priesthood,  and  all 
who  question  the  rule  of  those  who  are  descended  from  the 
prophets. 

THE  FIRST:   Let  her  die! 

THE  SECOND:  She  shall  perish  by  stoning  according  to 
the  law.  (Mary  stands  quietly  in  her  corner.  The  crowd 
is  close  to  her  now  and  some  press  upon  her  and  touch  her. 
At  the  back  a  noise  is  heard.) 

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THE    SON    OF   MAN 

THE:  CROWD:  (Off  the  stage.)  He  is  come!  He  is  come! 
Way  for  Jesus,  the  prophet  of  Nazareth!  (The  men  on 
the  stage  take  up  the  cry  and  make  way  for  Jesus,  who  en 
ters  at  the  back,  on  the  right,  with  Peter,  Matthew,  John 
and  Judas,  and  comes  up  the  stage,  over  to  Mary  of  Mag- 
dala,  at  the  front,  on  the  left.  She  goes  to  him  and  clasps 
her  arms  about  him.  His  head  is  bowed  and  he  walks 
sorrowfully. ) 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:  They  would  kill  me,  Jesus,  because 
I  have  loved  much. 

THE;  FOURTH  MAN  :  She  must  be  stoned  because  she  has 
transgressed  the  law.  But  you,  Jesus,  shall  appoint  who 
shall  begin  the  holy  work.  (The  crowd  circles  close  about 
Jesus  and  Mary  of  Magdala.  Jesus  separates  himself  from 
her.  Steadfastly  he  gazes  into  the  eyes  of  the  crowd.  His 
lethargy  of  sadness  has  left  him  and  he  is  tense  and  mag 
netic.  ) 

JESUS  :  (Slowly  and,  pointing  his  finger  at  the  men  about 
him.)  He  who  is  without  sin  among  ye — let  him  first  cast 
a  stone  at  her !  ( The  crowd  falls  back  a  pace  and.  its  mem 
bers  begin  to  whisper  in  groups.  Jesus  leads  Mary  further 
t(<  the  side,  where  she  is  joined  by  the  apostles  John,  Peter 
and  Matthew.) 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:  (Putting  her  arms  about  his  neck.) 
Jesus,  stay  with  me.  We  can  be  happy  in  the  hills.  We 
can  return  to  Nazareth  or  Capernaum  or  go  forth  where'er 
'you  will  about  the  world.  Give  up  these  thankless,  lustful 
men.  It  is  not  time  yet  for  your  coming.  Their  children, 

61 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

a«  Pilate  said,  a  thousand  years  from  now,  may  greet  you 
knowingly;  but  today  you  shall  fail  with  them. 

PETER  :  Jesus,  thou  art  pledged  to  the  attack.  The  world 
must  be  remade  tonight. 

JESUS:  Thou  art  wrong,  my  beloved  and  my  friend.  My 
work  is  greater  and  more  terrible  than  either  of  you  know. 
I  must  turn  them  back.  I  must  teach  men  where  they  err. 
John  is  dead.  The  greatest  prophet  and  the  mightiest  man 
in  Israel  is  dust.  Alone  I  must  teach  men  truth.  (He 
stands  for  a  moment  silent,  and  then  raises  his  hand.  The 
crowd  gathers  about  him  and  an  old  man  comes  forward.) 

THE  OLD  MAN  :  Jesus,  I  am  the  oldest  of  your  followers 
in  Jerusalem  for  I  remember  the  first  and  woeful  coming 
cf  the  cursed-  Romans.  Therefore  it  is  that  they  have 
chosen  me  to  tell  you  the  will  of  the  free  men  of  Judea. 
You  are  our  prophet ;  you  shall  lead  us.  In  all  things  you 
shall  direct  us:  whom  to  slay  and  whom  to  leave  among 
the  living;  what  property  to  divide  among  ourselves  and 
what  to  save  for  the  general  good.  In  all  things  shall  we 
follow  you,  and  especially  in  the  struggle  of  all  the  down 
trodden  of  the  ages  against  their  masters  on  this  day  of 
days. 

VOICES:  Yea,  yea,  the  world  shall  be  remade  tonight. 
(The  hands  of  Jesus  begin  to  tremble;  his  eyes  look  off 
beyond  him  who  is  speaking;  he  steps  up  a  little  above  the 
crowd  and  begins  his  sermon  in  a  far-away,  mysterious 
voice.) 

JESUS:    Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit:    for  theirs  is  the 

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THE    SON    OF    MAN 

kingdom  of  Heaven.  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn:  for 
they  shall  be  comforted.  Blessed  are  the  meek:  for  they 
shall  inherit  the  earth.  Blessed  are  the  merciful:  for  they 
shall  obtain  mercy.  Blessed  are  the  peacemakers :  for  they 
shall  be  called  the  children  of  God.  Ye  are  the  salt  of  the 
earth  and  the  light  of  the  world.  Think  not  that  I  am  come 
to  destroy  the  law,  or  the  prophets:  I  am  not  come  to 
destroy  but  to  fulfill.  Ye  have  heard  it  said,  an  eye  for  an 
eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth.  But  I  say  unto  you,  That  ye 
resist  not  evil :  But  whosoever  shall  smite  thee  on  the  right 
cheek,  turn  to  him  the  other  also.  Ye  have  heard  that  it 
hath  been  said,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  and  hate  thine 
enemy.  But  I  say  unto  you,  love  your  enemies,  bless  them 
that  curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray 
for  them  which  despitefully  use  you  and  persecute  you. 
Judge  not  that  ye  be  not  judged.  Therefore  depart  from 
me,  ye  that  would  work  iniquity,  depart.  (The  crowd  has 
become  perturbed.  There  are  words  of  opposition  among 
them.  Even  the  apostles  falter.  Only  Mary  of  Magdala 
is  radiant  with  joy.) 

PETER:  Behold,  we  have  forsaken  all  and  followed  thee; 
what  shall  we  have  therefore? 

JESUS  :  Ye  that  follow  me  in  the  help  of  men — every  one 
that  hath  forsaken  houses,  or  brothers,  or  sisters,  or  father, 
or  mother,  or  wife,  or  children,  or  lands,  for  the  world's 
snke,  shall  receive  an  hundred  fold  and  shall  inherit  lasting 
life.  But  many  that  are  first  shall  be  last :  and  the  last 
shall  be  first.  Yet  shall  ye  commit  no  sin  in  the  name  of 
God  and  of  men.  Thou  shalt  not  murder.  Go  ye,  there- 

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THE    SON    OF    MAN 

fore,  and  teach.  Go  ye  into  all  the  world.  (Jesus  falls 
back  exhausted  and  is  caught  in  Marys  arms.  Peter  comes 
forward  furious.  A  roaring  mutiny  rises  from  the  crowd. 
A  rumble  of  thunder  and  a  lightning  flash.) 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:   Jesus,  Jesus,  my  beloved. 

JESUS :  (In  a  idiisper.)  Thrice,  thrice,  Peter,  shalt  thou 
deny  me  ere  the  dawn. 

A  MAN  IN  THE  CROWD:  This  is  no  son  of  God  or  man. 
He  is  a  weakling  and  an  outcast. 

JUDAS:   Let  Peter  lead  us! 
ANOTHER  :   Let  Peter  be  our  king ! 

ALL:  Peter!  Peter!  Peter  shall  rule.  (Peter  gazes  at 
Jesus,  fallen  against  Mary's  breast.  Then,  the  lust  for 
power  seizes  him,  and  he  rushes  into  the  Temple.  The 
multitude  follows  and  there  is  a  great  crash  within.) 

JESUS:  Father,  forgive  them.  They  know  not  what  they 
do.  (The  remaining  priests,  who  have  been  huddled  with 
in  the  Temple  rush  forth  and,  seeing  Jesns,  come  upon  him. 
There  is  further  thunder  and  lightning.) 

FIRST  I-RIKST:    Swine! 

SECOND  PRIEST:    Cursed  profaner  of  the  Sanctuary. 

THIRD  Pi         :     Death,  death,  death! 

FOURTH  PRIEST:   Death  to  Jesus,  King  of  the  Jews! 

FIRST  PRIKST:   Crucify  him.  crucify  him! 

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THE   SON    OF    MAN 

SECOND  PRIEST:  Crucify  him!  (There  is  another  crash 
within,  then  a  trumpet  blast.  The  crowd  rushes  out  of  the 
Temple,  up  the  stage  and  out  on  either  side.  The  priests 
flee  crying,  "Crucify  him,  crucify  him!"  Following  the 
crowd  and  driving  them  on,  come  the  Roman  soldiery  who 
have  entered  the  Temple  at  the  back.  Some  of  them  bear 
the  eagles  and  the  emblem  of  the  Senate  and  the  Roman 
People,  and  others  carry  torches.  In  the  midst  of  them 
comes  Pontius  Pilate  in  robes  of  state  as  Procurator  of 
Judea,  and  with  the  old,  cynical  but  still  sweet  smile.) 

PONTIUS  PILATE :  (Sadly.)  Jesus,  Jesus,  my  friend,  thou 
skouldst  have  found  Bacchus  or  Caesar  kinder  masters. 


ACT  IV 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 


ACT  IV 

The  rising  of  the  curtain  discloses  a  reproduction  in  life 
of  Leonardo  da  Vinci's  painting  of  the  Last  Supper ;  Jesus 
in  the  center  on  one  side  of  a  long  table,  with  six  of  the 
apostles  on  either  side  of  him.  The  table  is  laid  in  the 
inside  of  his  hut  on  the  Mount  of  Olives  and  the  walls  and 
furniture  of  the  scene  are  simple :  a  number  of  stools  and 
several  of  the  earthenware  pots.  There  are  two  narrow 
windows  at  the  back,  flanking  the  door  which  is  always 
open,  and  discloses  a  beautiful  landscape.  After  a  full 
half-minute  of  silence  Peter  speaks. 

PETER:  We  have  eaten.  Now  we  must  prepare.  Those 
who  are  to  watch  the  highroad  and  the  hedges  ought  to 
take  their  places. 

MATTHEW:  (Rising.)  We  shall  be  gone,  Peter,  before 
the  seventh  hour.  Every  corner  of  the  hillside  shall  be 
watched  and  all  signs  from  the  city  shall  be  reported.  (All 
cf  the  apostles,  excepting  Peter,  Judas  and  John,  go  out.) 

JOHN  :   My  dear  Master ! 

jEsus:  (Who  is  still  seated  at  the  table  raises  his  hand.) 
Sweet  boy,  it  is  only  death. 

JUDAS:  Jesus,  let  me  speak  frankly,  once  and  for  all 
time.  There  is  no  need  for  thee  to  die.  Fare  forth.  Go 
into  Galilee.  Take  ship  for  Persia  or  for  Athens.  Leave 

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THE   SON    OF    MAN 

this  battle  here  with  us  who  belong  to  Judea,  and  who 
understand  its  people. 

JESUS:  It  is  never  by  battle  that  we  shall  conquer. 

JUDAS:  It  is  never  by  the  peace  that  passeth  under 
standing. 

PETER  :  Judas  is  right.  There  is  hellish  evil  in  the  world 
that  nought  but  blood  and  fire  shall  dissolve.  The  mightiest 
war  of  all  the  ages  must  be  fought  and  those  who  have 
oppressed  and  beaten  the  people  must  perish.  .  .  .  Thou 
art  a  man  of  peace,  Jesus;  this  is  not  thy  work.  It  would 
be  better  to  go. 

JUDAS:  It  is  necessary  to  go.  To  stay  means  the  de 
struction  of  our  cause;  ruin,  betrayal — death. 

jEsus :  Yea,  yea,  yea,  but  I  am  ready  to  die.  I  have 
long  ago  determined  that  it  should  be  so.  If  I  live  I  shall 
be  forgotten ;  my  death  will  seal  what  I  have  said,  upon 
the  heart  strings  of  the  world.  .  .  .  Do  you  not  see,  Peter, 
that  war  shall  not  avail  you?  Wage  your  strife  upon  the 
thinking  of  mankind.  All  else  is  failure. 

PETER:  While  you  are  changing  men's  thoughts,  their 
bodies  are  starved  and  trampled  under  foot. 

JESUS:  Knowing  that,  I  have  spent  a  life  of  sorrow. 
Now,  at  its  end,  I  see  that  sadness  should  not  be  ours  be 
cause  a  generation  suffers,  but  because,  without  new  think 
ing,  all  the  ages  of  the  earth  shall  waste  themselves  in  false 
and  foolish  striving.  Give  men  an  outlook  on  the  world, 

70 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

O  Peter,  give  them  a  brotherhood  with  all  their  fellows,  and 
waste  of  lives  and  energies  and  thoughts  will  cease. 

JUDAS:  Jesus,  the  people  have  risen  and  are  ready  for 
war.  Such  sentiments  mean  death.  I  warn  you,  you  will 
be  betrayed;  but  no  betrayal  is  needed.  Already  they  are 
crying  for  your  crucifixion.  It  is  for  us  to  collect  what  re 
sources  we  can  and  lead  them. 

JESUS  :   Thou  canst  not  conquer  with  the  sword. 

JUDAS  :  The  poor  must  conquer  as  they  can :  by  the  voice 
when  men  would  hear,  by  the  pen  when  men  would  read, 
by  the  sword  when  all  the  earth  is  bent  on  war. 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :  Yea,  but  to  unbend  them — that  were 
a  worthy  struggle  for  thee,  Judas. 

JUDAS:  Nay,  we  must  learn  the  tactics  of  our  masters: 
to  lead  the  people  with,  and  not  against,  their  will.  Op 
posing  this  will  bring  thee,  Jesus,  to  thy  death.  (A  noise 
is  heard  on  the  hillside.) 

JESUS:  If  that  be  they,  I  am  ready  to  receive  them. 
(Matthew  rushes  into  the  hut.) 

MATTHEW  :  Jesus,  beloved  Lord,  they  are  arming,  they 
are  arming.  The  synagogue  is  crying  for  your  death. 

JESUS  :  I  am  ready. 

MATTHEW  :  Master,  there  is  time  to  take  ship  for  Rhodes. 
A  fishing  craft  lies  waiting  in  the  Phoenician  waters. 

JESUS  :   It  is  too  late. 

71 


THE   SON    OF    MAN 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA:  (Coming  close  to  him.)  It  is  not 
too  late.  We  will  go  with  you.  We  will  cross  the  hills, 
guarding  you  always  among  us,  ever  watchful  for  you,  as 
children  for  a  venerable  father. 

JESUS:  It  is  too  late. 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :  No,  it  is  not  too  late.  It  is  not  too 
late  for  safety  and  for  happiness.  Oh,  come  with  us  and 
be  as  a  child,  my  Jesus.  Come  with  us  quickly  as  a  young 
lad  stricken  with  sorrow.  Come  with  us  and  let  us  lead 
you. 

JOHN:  (Coming  to  him.)  Master,  I  shall  follow  thee 
to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  (Peter,  Judas  and  Matthew  turn 
away  in  sorrow.) 

JESUS:  I  am  ready  to  die.  Nothing  that  can  come  will 
be  unthought  of  and  unplanned.  I  have  dreamed  of  this 
moment  when  men  were  most  with  me.  It  comes  to  every 
conqueror,  leading  him  to  his  death  or  clinging  to  his  name 
when  he  has  died.  Because  I  am  now  to  die  in  the  midst 
of  my  life,  my  work  will  live,  as  a  gentle  breath,  cooling 
the  brow  of  mighty  men  throughout  the  ages.  (One  of  the 
Apostles  cries  out  on  the  hillside.) 

MATTHEW:  (Going  to  the  door.)  There  is  a  hooded 
figure  on  the  road. 

JOHN  :  A  Roman  comes.  He  is  hidden  in  a  cloak  of 
purple.  (Pontius  Pilate  enters.  He  is  clothed  completely 
in  golden  armor,  visible  as  he  removes  a  dark  toga  that 
covers  him.) 

72 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

PETER :  Pilate !  (John  and  Mary  edge  away  from  him  in 
fear.) 

jEsus :   Pontius,  you  are  welcome. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  I  come  as  a  friend.  .  .  .  They  have 
cried  out  against  you,  Jesus,  in  the  marketplace  and  the 
temple.  The  world  is  your  enemy  today ;  and  as  the  world 
turns  so  must  Rome  follow,  for  it  is  only  thus  that  Rome 
can  rule  the  world.  .  .  .  Jesus,  thou  knowest  that  I  am  thy 
fiiend.  I  have  come  with  thee  from  Galilee;  I  have  taken 
thee  from  thy  mother's  arms  and  watched  thee  gather  the 
world  at  thy  feet;  and  now  that  those  that  have  followed 
thee  turn  upon  thee  in  hate,  I  come  but  to  save  thee. 

jEsus:  Pontius,  friend  of  my  days  of  joy,  I  have  finished 
the  work  our  eternal  Father  has  given  me.  In  the  world 
I  have  had  tribulation,  but  be  of  good  cheer,  for  my  words 
shall  overcome  the  world. 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  Jesus,  my  friend,  it  may  indeed  be  so. 
In  the  still  watches  of  the  darkness  I  have  come  to  feel 
thee  and  know  thee  and  I  would  not  have  thee  severed 
from  thy  work.  ...  I  can  delay  the  spiteful  ire  of  the 
Saducees.  I  can  delay  all  thine  enemies  until  morning; 
but  by  then  thou  must  have  gone. 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :   Oh,  persuade  him,  Pontius  Pilate ! 

PONTIUS  PILATE  :  Yea,  by  morning  thou  must  have  gone 
deep  into  Syria.  Or  better  still,  I  will  have  a  galleon  for 
thee  in  the  waters  below  and  Metellus  shall  take  thee  with 
a  letter  to  Caesar.  Caesar  will  welcome  thee  and  sit  at 
thy  feet. 

73 


THE   SON    OF   MAN 

JESUS:  Why  do  men  flee  the  one  inevitable  moment — 
the  final  rapture  that  can  not  be  flown  ? 

PONTIUS  PILATE  :  Thou  shalt  have  a  new  life.  The  years 
thou  hast  lived  thou  canst  live  again. 

JESUS:  I  have  been  for  thirty  years  upon  the  earth,  but 
I  have  lived  some  centuries — I  cannot  tell  how  long  or  what 
number  of  men  have  lived  in  me.  But  I  am  weary  with  a 
weariness  that  comes  to  those  who  are  finished  and  can  go 
no  farther.  (John  and  Peter  cover  their  faces,  Mary  turns 
away  while  Pontius  Pilate  takes  up  his  toga  and  throws  it 
about  him.) 

PONTIUS  PILATE:  You  are  like  a  king,  and  the  word  of 
kings  is  accepted  in  silence.  (He  raises  his  arm  in  Roman 
salutation.)  Peace!  (He  goes  out.) 

PETER:  You  shall  not  be  taken  from  us  without  a 
struggle. 

MATTHEW  :  But,  Peter,  we  have  but  two  swords  among 
us. 

JESUS:  It  is  enough.  For  you  shall  not  contend  for  the 
salvation  of  my  body.  It  is  for  you  to  save  my  words  and 
my  work,  to  see  that  neither  perish  from  the  earth. 

JOHN:  (At  the  doorway.)  I  see  four  men  approaching, 
Master,  and  an  aged  woman,  and  among  them  is  Malchus, 
an  underling  of  the  Temple. 

JUDAS:  It  is  the  end.  Master,  mistaken  one,  farewell. 
(Peter  and  Matthew  get  the  swords  and  go  out.  Judas 

74 


THE   SON    OF    MAN 

comes  to  Jesus,  and  as  he  kisses  him  Malchus  appears  in 
the  doorway.} 

MALCHUS  :  That  is  he !  That  is  he !  Seize  him  !  (Peter 
rushes  upon  him  and  slashes  his  ear  with  his  sword.  There 
is  a  scuffle  without.  Exit  Judas.) 

PETER:  The  slaves  are  gone,  and  one  of  them  without 
his  ear. 

MATTHEW:  (Entering  with  drawn  sword.)  They  have 
gone,  but  they  will  come  again.  It  is  a  matter  of  moments. 
(Mary,  the  mother,  appears  in  the  doorway.  She  is  wan 
with  travel  and  leans  upon  a  stick.) 

JESUS  :  Thou  art  wrong,  my  children.  We  cannot  stand 
against  them.  Nor  is  it  needful.  Ye  have  work  enough  to 
do.  A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  that  ye  love 
one  another.  By  this  shall  men  know  that  ye  are  my  dis 
ciples,  if  you  love  one  another.  I  have  called  you  friends, 
and  this  I  command  you. 

MARY,  THE  MOTHER:  My  son,  my  son!  (Those  on  the 
stage  start  in  surprise.  Jesus  goes  to  her,  they  embrace,  he 
helps  her  to  enter,  and  they  seat  themselves.)  Ever  art 
thou  Jesus,  ever  the  same,  my  son!  I  feared  to  come  to 
thee.  I  feared  I  should  find  thee  unprepared  for  what  must 
come.  I  feared  I  should  find  hatred  in  thy  heart,  and  fear 
upon  thy  lips.  But  thou  art  ever  as  I  would  have  thee: 
loving  thine  enemies,  fearing  no  evil,  prepared  for  all 
things. 

JESUS:   Mother,  Mother,  my  beloved! 

75 


THE    SON    OF   MAN 

MARY,  THE  MOTHER:  It  was  eight  years  ago  when  last 
thou  saidst  those  words. 

jEsus:  (Smiling  wistfully,  and  looking  into  the  distance.) 
At  Nazareth,  in  Galilee,  on  a  stone  bench  in  the  garden  of 
our  cottage.  I  was  a  boy,  thou  wert  my  young  mother, 
then. 

MARY,  THE  MOTHER:   Yea,  we  are  older,  now. 

MARY  OF  MAGDALA  :  Mother,  mother,  they  will  crucify  thy 
son. 

MARY  THE  MOTHER  :   I  have  heard  all,  my  daughter. 
JEsus:    I  am  ready,  dearest  mother. 

MARY   OF    MAGDALA  :     God   of   WOC  ! 

MARY  THE  MOTHER:  Thou  knowest,  Jesus,  that  they  who 
will  do  thee  unto  death,  act  as  they  must  act,  being  they, 
even  as  thou  actest  as  thou  dost,  being  thou.  They  are 
slaves  of  hate,  as  thou  art  lord  of  love.  (Mary  of  Magdala 
begins  to  weep.)  Daughter,  daughter,  come  to  me,  stay 
with  me.  I  have  travelled  long  roads  to  be  here  at  this 
moment.  Be  comforted  that  millions  shall  be  happy  be 
cause  thou  and  I  have  lived,  that  millions  shall  love  greatly 
because  Jesus  dies.  (The  tramp  of  feet  is  heard.  All  the 
Apostles  enter  in  silence.  A  growing  brightness  lights  up 
the  hill  outside.  During  the  nc.vt  speeches,  torches  are  seen 
in  the  doorway  and  a  line  of  Romans  bearing  the  emblem 
of  the  Senate  and  the  Roman  People.  Jesus  kisses  Mary 
of  Magdala  and  rests  for  a  moment  in  his  mother's  arms. 

76 


THE    SON    OF   MAN 

Then  he  gives  his  hand  to  several  of  the  disciples  and  last 
to  John.) 

jEsus :   Dost  thou  think  now  that  I  shall  die,  John? 

JOHN  :  Nay,  Master.  Wheresoever  men  shall  think  and 
feel  and  reverence  the  beautiful  and  holy  we  shall  bear  thy 
life.  So  shalt  thou  live  among  men  a  thousand  gener 
ations. 

MARY  THE  MOTHER  :  Yea,  and  a  thousand  thousand.  (A 
pause.) 

JESUS  :  Fare  thee  well,  my  brothers.  Be  ye  sons  of  God. 
(He  leaves.  The  soldiers  Hie  away  with  their  torches. 
Mary  of  Magdala  weeps  with  her  head  in  the  lap  of  Mary 
the  Mother.) 


17 


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THE  SON  OF  MAN.  A  Drama  in  Four  Acts.  By  B. 
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